Friday, June 26, 2009

Ireland joins a host of nations in the European Union that recognize and grant rights to same-sex couples. While the legislation falls short of full marriage equality, this marks a historic step in the staunchly Catholic nations history towards granting full equality to gay, lesbian, and bisexual Irish citizens.

"This bill provides legal protection for cohabiting couples and is an important step, particularly for same-sex couples, whose relationships have not previously been given legal recognition by the state," Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said in a statement.

The legislation provides a range of previously denied rights including maintenance obligations, protection of a shared home and succession. "Balance is achieved by maintaining material distinctions between civil partnership and marriage, in particular between the rights attaching to both, while at the same time reflecting the equality rights protected by the constitution," Ahern said (Reuters).

More work is needed to fight for full equality for LGBT people in Ireland. Please join the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network to ensure full equality in the country.

12 comments:

Does Spain belong to this "host of nations in the European Union that recognize and grant rights to same-sex couples"? I presume an aye, but we lack a law like this, at least a nation-wide one. When same-sex marriage was approved in Spain, civil union was buried before born.

This is NOT an cause of celebration!! This is not equality and this is not a positive step. This will allow Fine Fail (governing party) to bury same-sex marriage permanently. Same sex families are now in a worse position they were in this time last week, at least there was hope then. Anyone who supports this supports discrimination ands thats as plain and simple as i can put it!!!

Does anyone know if the Bill recognizes bi-national couples i.e. where one partner is Irish and would like to move to Ireland eventually, with her American partner? Would her American partner be legal there?

The proposed bill would treat civil partners as a married couple when it comes to immigration. According to the proposed bill,it is up to the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform when it comew to what types of foreign same-sex legal relationships are recognised in Ireland as civil partnerships.

Th bill would recognise cohabitaiong gay and straight couples as well as allow gay couples only to enter into civil partnerships. It, however, fails to recognise the children of cohabiting couples and civil partners. It makes little mention of children and provides no protection of these children which does not already exist.